There are only two sightings of small buttonquail for the whole of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
About
About Small Buttonquail:
Turnix sylvaticus(Small Buttonquail) is a species of birds in the family buttonquails.
They are native to the Palearctic, Asia, and Ethiopia.
They are diurnal omnivores.
The small buttonquail is polyandrous, which means the male single-handedly shoulders child-rearing responsibilities.
Habitat
Small buttonquail are found on dry sandy soil, in open bush, low scrub, in short grass, and fallow cultivated lands (Jackson, 1926).
They are found where there is ground cover in which to hide. Suitable ground cover includes dwarf palmetto vegetation, cotton, millet or cassave crops, savanna bush, or stubble fields.
Bamboo jungle is favored and dense evergreen forests, deserts and wetlands are avoided.
Behaviour
Turnix sylvaticus is considered to be a sedentary species. Subspecies may be locally migratory or nomadic in northwestern India.
These buttonquail enjoy basking in the sun and dust-bathing.